Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-06-29
CITE COUNCIL.
The last regular meeting of the present
City Council was held last night.
IN THE BOARD OF ALDERMEN

Mr. Strauss from the Comm ittee on Light,
presented the annual report of the opera.
tons of the Gas Works for the past fiscal
year, which shows an increase in the net
profits of the institution of more than SoO0
over those of last year. Mr.. s. made a lucid
statement of the affairs of the works. The
report was approved and ordered to be
printed
The President, Mr.. Downham, then pre-
sented the report of the Commissioners OF
the Sinking Fund for the year ending May
81, 1887, which was also approved and or.
dered to be printed.
Mr. Strauss offered resolution that tue
Auditor be directed to issue his warrant IN
favor of Jacob Rox bury Tor the sum of $50
l he resolution was sigued by the Commit
lee on Light, and Mr.. Strauss in presenting
it spoke in complimentary terms Of tho MAI
ner in which Mr.. koxbury had conducted
the affairs of tie Gas Works during his In
cumbeucy, having 81 the present time Dut
S34l of uncollected bills in his hands Some
mouths ago the salary OF the superintendent
of Gas had been increased but as MI Il.
would 20 out Of office in few days he
would reap no benefit from the increase.
He, therefore, thought it proper to make
The appropriatiun asked for in the resolution.
Mr. T4eadbeater opposed the resolution, as
did also Dir. Burke, both considering 1t q
bad precedent, as other officers OF the city
about to reinquish their trusts could with
equal propriety ask for additional compen-
satou.
Upon vote being taken Messrs. Strauss,
Smith and Bryant voted in the affirmative,
aud Messrs Burke, Leadbeater and MIR.
President 10 the negative, and the resolu-
ton Wsa declared lost.
Mr.. Bryant. from the Committee on
Streets, introduced an ordinance providing
for the numbering of the houses OF the city
on the decimal system and for the painting
of the names of the streets on the gas lamps,
or where there are no lamp posts TO atfix the
names to houses at street intersections.
The ordinance, after some conversational
debate, was passed with an amendment, Of
fered by Mr.. Smith that the consent OF
property owners be first obtained before the
names of streets shall be affixed to their
houses.
Mr. Leadbeater presented petition of
several citizens praying Council to enact q
law compelling the Alexandria and Wash
ington Railroad Company to place flag
man at the intersection of Prince and Henry
streets and Prince and Fayette streets in
conjunction with those at Duke and Henry
aud Duke and Fayette streets.
Mr.. Smith hoped the petition would be
referred TO the Committee on Streets, as by
the time they reported on the matter he
would cease TO be member of the board.
The speaker was attorney for the railroad
company, aud would certainly not vote to
trammel the company unnecessarily. IL
had already acceded to the request OF Coun-
ell by stationing two hsgmen st street
crossings at d cost of about 5000 per annum,
aud should another be demanded the sum
would be increased to at least 5000, about
one fifth of the annual profits of the COM
pany. About $1,000 was realized by the
road each year, while they had a bonded
Indebtedness Of about halt million OF dol
lars.
Mr.. Bryant spoke in favor of passing
law in accordance with the wishes Of the
petitioners, and Mr. Burke cited an instance
where q man, his wife and child barely es-
capped being crushed to death at the Prince
street crossing.
Mr.. Leadbester finally withdrew The petit
ton, with the understanding that he would
present 1t to the incoming board
Mr.. Strauss here arose and said, as the
oldest member of the Board of Aldermen, 1t
was incumbent upon him to express the
regrets of the Aldermen at the retirement
of its able and courteous President, ana
offered resolution of thanks TO the retiring
officer, which was passed.
Mr.. Downham made some fitting remarks
in reply to the complimentary remarks oil NIT.
Strauss, and also thanked tie members Tor
the resolution they had passed. de sald ne
had been member OF the Board OF Alder
men for about sixteen years, and during
that period had endeavored to do his duty
in eyery respect He in one way only
regretted that he was about to retire from
the board. He was 10th to sever himself
,Nla INF oEsOnlQtpS whom ne
had every reason to believe had been more
cautious in transacting the cty's affairs
than 10 conducting their own business.
EVERYTHING had been conducted harmoni-
ously: the members had ever shown dlspos .
ition 10 acauiesce cheerfully in the views oil
the majority; there had been no factions 10
fight, and he naturally regretted tnat ne
was compelled to sever his connection with
q BODY of gentlemen with whom his asso-
Citations had been so pleasant.
The Treasurer's and Auditors reports Tor
the fiscal year were then received from the
Common Council and their action concur
red in also the ordinance allowing q DIS
count OF 10 per cent. on tax bills paid by
the 10th of July, and per cent. on those
paid by Sept 1st
a resolution of thanks to the clerk, J. j..
Jameson, was afterwards passed, and the
board adjourned sine die
COMMON COUNCIL.
Oay one seat was vacant at the closing
meeting of the board last night and very
much business was transacted.
When the proposal of Mr.. Charles Sipple
to rent from the city lot on Wilkes and
Alfred streets, held under tax hills by the
city came up,
Mr.. Cation, the clerk, said that the owner
had turned up and he believed that in few
days disposition of this property would be
made and the lot improved.
Mr.. Peake thought that meanwhile the
city might be getting rent from the prop
erty.
Mr.. Snowden suggested that it would do
no harm for the matter TO be laid over a
faU weeks